Hinge



June 21, 1927.

M. J; ECONOMIDES HINGE Filed Se pt. 26. 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 1'II'II/III'IIIIIIII gwoento't v v 1,633,480 1927' M. J. ECONOMIDES HINGEFiled Sept. 26, 1925 s Sheets-Sheet I MJEobno midqsf June 21 1927.1,633,480

M. J. ECONOMIDES HINGE I Filed Sept 26. .1 25 s sheets-sheet ilkPatented June 21, 1927.

UNITED STATES FP-A'TE N T OFFICE;

MICHAEL J. EOONOMIDES, F ZB RQO KLYZN, NEW YORK.

HINGE.

which, as 'CO11'1 )'-.1'(l with similar hinges as heretoforeconstructed, will be more rigid, strong and durable well as possesssuperior mechanical features.

The invention seeks, as a further object, to provide ahi'nge wherein thesides of the hinge box or the fixed hinge member will be rigidly heldagainst spreading so that undue looseness of the movable hinge memberwith .consequent strain and rattling will be lit) avoided.

And the lnvention seeks, as a still further object, to provide a hingewherein the movable hinge member-may, when desired, be

readily disengaged from the fixed hinge member for displacing the door.

Other objects of the invention not previously specifically mentionedwill appear in the course of the followingdescription.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a ,plan view showing the improved. hinge applied with partsof the door and the vehicle-body in horizontal section.

Figure Qis ,a vertical sectional view on the line 2 2 of Figure1,.looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

F i sure 3 .isan elevation of the fixed hinge member, the hinge arm ofthe movable memher being broken off.

Figure t is a section on the line l-At of Figure 1, looking in thedirectionindicated by the arrows.

' Figure 5 is a plan view of the blank from whichthe fixed hinge memberis formed.

Figure. 6 is a detail perspective view of the reinforcing plate for thefixed hinge member.

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of the movable hinge member.

Figure 8 is .a view similar to Figure 1 showing a slightly modified formof the invention applied.

Figure 9 a vertical sectional View cot-the structure shown in Figure 8.

F igure 10 is a plan view of the blank from which the fixed hinge memberof the modi lied structure is formed.

Application filed Se'ptember 26, 1925.

Serial No. 53,795.

' Figure 11 is a view similar to Figures 1 and '8 showing a furthermodified structure. Figure 12 is a detail perspective view of the fixedhinge and associated partsof the structure shown in'Figure 11. i

F i gure 1'3 is a plan view of'the blank from which the fixed hingemember of Figure 12 is formed; I

Figure llfisa sectional plan view showing still another modification ofthe invention.

Figure 115 is a section on the line 15 15 .of Figure 14, "looking in thedirection indicated by the arrows.

Figure 16 is a section on the line 1"6'16. of Figure 14, looking in thedirect-ion indicated ibythe arrows.

Figure 17 is aplan view of the blank from which is formed the fixedhinge 'member shown in Figure ll.

Figure 18 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the anchoring tongueofithe latter modified structure.

Referring now more partictdarly to Figures 1 to 'Z-inclusive the numeral1'0 ,indicates a portion of a vehicle body andthe numeral 11 a' portionofa door. -=Ooun'tersunk in the body 10 is the fixed hinge memberemployed. This'mem'ber is,'as shown in Figure 5, initially struck fromsuitable resilient sheet metal in the form vo'f a blank '12, which is:bent along the dotted lines illus- .tra'te d,"to provide -a rectangularbox 14 from the top and bottom of which project oppositely directed faceplates 15. These face plates are countersunk in the adjacent edge of thebody 10,and are apertured to receive screws'i16 securing thehinge memberin position while, as particularly shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, thedoorframe or body 10 'i's.pr0 vided with a recess 17'to accommodate the box'14.

' '15 is, as particularly seen in Figure '3, provided with a notch 23.As brought out in Figures 2 and 4, -tl1e recess 17 is provided in itsupperwall with a cavity 24: Whlch extends substantially flush with theupper edge of the notch23 over the cut away p01" till tion 22 of the topwall of the box. Formed on the top wall of the box 14 near one of itsforward corners is a downturned lug 25, best seen in Figure 4, andformed on the bottom wall of said box to overlie the lug 25 is anupturned lug 26 having a tongue 27 which, as shown in Figure 3, is bentacross the for ward edge of the lug 25 to extend a short distancelongitudinally within the adjacent end of the'open front of the box.Extending through the lugs 25 and 26 is a rivet 28 rigidly securing saidlugs together. Formed on the bottom wall 19 of the box at its oppo siteforward corner is an upturned angular lug 29, and formed on the upperface plate 15 to extend across the adjacent end of the open front of thebox is an extension 30 overlying the front flange of the lug 29. Theextension 30 is provided with a rearwardly directed lug 31 which, asbest seen in Figures 1 and 4, overlies the side flange of the lug 29,and extending through said lug and flange is a rivet 32 rigidly securingthe lugs together. Thus, as will be seen, the top and bottom walls 18and 19 of the box 14 are rigidly united at one end of the box by thepair of lugs 25 and 26 while the upper face plate 15 is connected withthe bottom wall of the box and with the lower face plate at the oppositeend of the box by the pair of lugs 29 and 31. Spreading of the top andbottom walls of the box will thus be effectually prevented.

In conjunction with the fixed hinge member, I provide an angularreinforcing plate 33. This plate is of suitable resilient sheet metaland, as shown in Figure 2, is shaped to fit in the angle between thebottom wall 19 of the box 14 and the lower face plate 15 and is weldedor otherwise integrally connected therewith. The plate 33is, as shown,provided with openings to accommodate the lower securing screws 16 aswell as with an opening 34 to register with the opening 21 of the wall19. However, the use of the reinforcing plate is optional, dependingupon whether or not the plate is thought to be necessary for anyparticular installation. The movable member of the hinge, like the fixedmember, is constructed of suitable resilient sheet metal and, as shownin Figure 7, is formed of companion sections embodying plate portionsabutting at their in ner longitudinal edges to form a base plate 35.Projecting from said edges of the plate portions are overlappingregistering portions of a laterally directed substantially L- shaped arm36. The portions of said arm are welded together or otherwise integrallyunited for rigidly connecting the sections of the member with eachother, and extending through the arm near its free end is a dependingpivot pin 37 preferably welded to the arm. The base plate 35 iscountersunk in the adjacent edge of the door and isapertured to receivescrews 38 connecting the hinge member with the door, while the arm 36projects into the box 14 of the fixed hinge member and is pivotallyconnected therewith by the pin 37 which fits through the registeringopenings 21 and 34 of the wall 19 of the box and the plate 33respectively. Thus, the door is mounted for free swinging movement andwhen swung'open, the arm 36 travels to the position shown in Figure therecess 17 of the door frame or body and the notch 23 of the upper faceplate 15, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, the pivot pin 37 beingthereby elevated to clear the opening 21 in the bottom wall 19 of thebox 14. The arm may then, of course, be withdrawn forwardly from the boxthrough the notch 23 to free the door. Thus, the door may, when desired,be readily detached. Reverse movements facilitate and effect assemblingof the hinge members.

in Figures 8, 9 and 10 of the drawings, I have illustrated a slightmodification of the invention in connection with a portion of a vehiclebody 39 and a portion of a door 40. Fixed and movable hinge members ofsuitable resilient sheet m'etal are employed as in the previouslydescribed embodiment of the invention. The fixed hinge member is struckfrom a blank 41 which is bent along the dotted lines shown to provide abox 42 from which project upper and lower face plates 43. The box iscountersunk in the body 39, which is provided with a cavity 44 toaccommodate the box, and extending through the face plates 43 are screws45 securing the hinge member in position. The box 42 is provided withparallel top and bottom walls 46 and 47 the former of which is cut awayas indicated at 43 while the latter is provided near one of its rearcorners with an opening 49. At 50 I have shown a reinforcing plate likethe plate 33, the plate 50 being intended to serve a similar function.However, said plate may or may not be employed as found expedient, but,in use, is preferably welded in position. Formed in the face plate 43 isa notch 51 while the recess 44 isprovidcd in its top with a cavity 52extending in the rear of said notch. Formed on the bottom wall 47 of thebox 42 at its outer forward corner is an upturned angle lug 53 andformed on the upper face plate 43 to overlie the front flange of saidlug is an extension 54. Project-ing from said extension is a rearwardlyturned lug wlii'choverl-ies the side flange of the lug .53, and saidlugs are welded toge'ther, the extension 54 being secured to the its;"53' in likemanner. Thus, the upperttace "plate 43 is rigidly connected,at the adjacent end of the box 42, with the lower face-plate, so thatthe top and bottom walls 46 and- 17 of the box '42 will be rigidly-heldagainst spreading movement.

The movable hinge member employed *in' this modified structure isidentical with the movable hinge meiiibe'i'previously described andincludes a base plate 56 which is screwed I to the door 40, andprojecting from said plate is an arm 57 which extends into the box 42 ofthe fixed hinge member and carries a p1n58 which fits through theopening 49 in the bottom wall of said boxand through'a like opening thereinforcing plate-50. 'The parts are thus pivotally connected by'said'pin while, by lifting the door,

Fixed and movable --hinge members of-s'uitable resilient sheet metal areemployed as in the previously described structures. The fixed hingeEmem'ber is struck from a blank 61, which is'ben't alongthe dottedlinesillustrated to provide 'a box 62 having 'top and bottom walls 63 and 64from w'hichprb'ject oppositely directed face plates65 and 66. Theseplates are apertured tore'cei ve s'erews securing the hinge member tothedoor frame and the frame is recessed'to accommodate said members asbefore described. The top "wall 68"of the 'box is cut away as indicatedat"67, while the bottom Wallis providedwith an opening 68, and-formedin'the upper face plate 65 opposite said opening is-a'notc'h'69. As-'pa1"-ticularly shown 'in Figure 12, the lower face plate 66 is'provi'dedatthe end edges of-the bottom wall64 ofthe' box 'withsubstantially V-shaped notches 70 and formed on the upper facep'l'ate*65 'at 'th'e'side 'edges thereof are depending tong'ues or 'lugs71 having inclined ends fitting in said notches. The tongues are weldedin "the notches so that the face plates 65 and'66 arethus rigidlyconnected witheach'other'while the top and bottom walls"63 andfi'toffthe box 62 are rigidlybraced against spreading.

In c'onj unetion with the fixed hinge member. I have shown areinforcing'back plate 72 which is of suitable resilient sheet met-aland is apertured to'fitover' the boX GQ of said member so that thereinforcin'g plate may thus liefl'at, as shown in Figure 11, against therear sides of "the face plates 65 and 66. lhe reinforcing plate 72 iswelded to the face plates and the aperture in the rei nf'orci-ngplate-is extended upwardly at one end, s particularly seen in Figure 12,so that the reinforcing plate will clear the notch 69o t-the upper faceplate'65. Projecting reari'va'rd ly from the lower edge of theopening inthe reinforcing plate is a tongue 73 which liesfla-t against the bottom"wall--64 of the box 62 and is welded to said bottom wall. Thetonguewill thus reinforce the box and ispro'vided with an opening 74 toregister with the opening 68 in said bottom wall.

I have further illustrated a reinforcing front plate '75 for the fixedhingemember.

"This plate is welded flat against the front "all'oi said p'lates,thep'l'ates being, as shown "in Figure 11, 'countersunkm the body 59.

Attention is directe'chto the fact that the fixed hinge *meniber; may,ifdesiired, be emp-loyed without the plates72 and 75 but, to

meet the requirements of practical installa- 131011,'StIKlPlZItGSZU'Gprovided in order that either one "or both of the plates .may be used toreinforce the fixed-hinge member, as may be considered expedient.

The movable hinge member is identical with the movable member iirstdescribedand -i1iclud-es"a"'face plate 77 which is screwed to the door'60, and projecting from said "face plate is an arm'78 carrying a pin 79jwhich "fits through the opening ('38 of the 'bottomwiall 64 of the boz:and through the o-pening' 'f l ofthe'tongue 73 forswingingl-ysupportingthe door. The arm 8 is of-a thiclrnessto be more orless snugly re cei-vedbtwe'en the top and bottom walls 63 and'ee kof thebox so that ra'ttling will *beprevente d while, by-lifting the door, the

arn'i'may be raised for freeing the pivot pin "79, in the mannerpreviously described, to

detach the door.

In 'Fi.gures I l, 15, 16, 17 and 18, I have illustrated still anotherform of the inventio'n, a,portion of a body or'frame-being -indicate'dat 80 and a portion of adoor at St.

The fixe'd hinge member 'isstruck from a blank-82, which blank is bent'alongthe dotted lines illustrated to provide a box 83 having top andhottom*walls 84 and 85 from which project oppositely directed upper and.lower face .aplates '86 and 87 respectively. These face plates, are, asshown in Figure 16, countersunk in the body 80 and are apertured toreceive screws 88 which secure the hinge member in position while thebody is provided with a recess 89 to accommodate the box 83. Formed onthe upper plate 85 at one side edge thereof,

as shown in Figure 18, is a tongue 90 which is offset to extend in therear of the face plate 87 at one end of the box, and this tongue iswelded to the latter face plate for rigidly connecting the face plateswith each other. Formed on the bottom wall 85 of the box, at theopposite end thereof, is an upturned lug 91, and formed on the adjacentend of the top wall 8% of the box is a downturned lug 92. The lug 92 isangle shaped. One flange thereof overlies the lug 91 while the otherflange projects a short distance within the adjacent end of the openfront of the box. The lugs 91 and 92 are welded together for rigidlyconnecting the face plates 86 and 8'7 with each other at the ad jacentend of the box so that these lugs, in conjunction with the tongue 90,will serve to rigidly hold the top and bottom walls of the box againstspreading movement. At one end, the top wall 84 of the box is reducedand the adjacent margin of said wall is bent to form a flange 93extending between the back wall of the box and the face plate 86 andprojecting downwardly toward the bottom wall 85 of the box. Near itsopposite end, the top wall is further provided with a keyhole slot 9 1which, as shown in Figure 16, opens through the face plate 86, while, atits rear end, said slot is provided with a circular portion 95.

The movable hinge member is similar to the movable hinge member firstdescribed and includes a face plate 96 which is countersunk in the door81 and is secured thereto by screws 97. The hinge member is formed ofsections, and projecting from the plate portions of said sections arethe overlapping portions of an arm 98, the portions of the arm beingwelded together. Extending through the free end of the arm is a pivotpin 99 which projects above and below the arm and is welded thereto.Immediately above the arm, the pin is provided with an annular groove100, and in order to permit the removal of the pin from the keyhole slot9-l-, the recess 89 in the body 80 is provided above said slot, as seenin Figure 16, with a cavity 101.

As will now be seen, the arm 98 of the movable hinge member is freelyreceived within the box 83 of the fixed hinge member and the upper endof the pin 99 fits in the circular portion 95 of the keyhole'slot 9twhile the lower end of said pin fits in an alined opening 102 in thebottom wall 85 of said box for pivotally connecting the movable hingemember with the fixed member.

Accordingly, the door is supported for free swinging movement and, inthis connection, it is to be observed that the pivot pin 99 is journaledat both ends while, when the door is closed, the arm 98 is, as shown inFigure 15, snugly received between the bottom wall.

85 of the box 88 and the flange 93 of the top wall 84: of said box sothat the arm is thus limited against movement and rattling is prevented.To detach the door, said door is lifted until the lower end of the pin99 is elevated out of the opening102 in the bottom wall of the box whenthe groove 100 in the upper end of the pin will lie within the circularportion of the keyhole slot 9 1 while the upper terminal of the pin willbe accommodated in the cavity 101. The groove 100 defines a reduced neckon the pin which is adapted to freely pass forwardly through the keyholeslot 94: so that after the door has been lifted, as indicated, the doormay be manipulated for withdrawing the arm 98 and pin 99 out of the box83. Thus, the door may be readily removed when so desired. i

In thismodifieation, I have also shown the use of a reinforcing plate103 which is identical with the plate 33 and serves a like purpose.However, it is to be understood that the plate 103 may, or may not, beemployed, as occasion may demand. In any instance where the plate isused, this plate is preferably welded to the bottom. wall 85 of the box83 and to the lower face plate 87 and is provided with openings toaccommodate the securing screws which extend through said lower faceplate, as well as with an opening 104: to receive and journal the lowerend of the pin 99.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. In a hinge, a hinge member formed of a sheet metal blank having lugsand bent to define a box open at the front thereof and provided with topand bottom walls, said lugs being bent into overlapping relation on aside of the box at the front corner thereof and being secured togetherfor rigidly limiting said walls against spreading movement at the openfront of the box.

2. In a hinge, a hinge member formed of a sheet metal blank bent todefine a box open at the front thereof and provided with top and bottomwalls having face plates extending therefrom, one of said plates beingprovided with a portion extending across the open front of the box andaround the adjacentcorner thereof and the opposed wall of the box beingprovided at its side with a lug rigidly secured to said portion forrigidly bracing the box against distortion at the open front thereof.

3. In a hinge, a hinge member formed of a sheet metal blank bent todefine a box open at the front thereof and provided with top and bottomwalls having face plates extending therefrom, said bottom Wall beingprovided With upstanding lugs on its sides at its front corners and saidtop Wall and one of said face plates being provided with lugsoverlapping said first mentioned lugs, and fastening devices rigidlysecuring said lugs together for bracing the box against distortion atthe open front thereof.

l. In a hinge, a hinge member formed of a sheet metal blank bent todefine a box open at the front thereof and provided with top and bottomWalls having face plates extending therefrom, said bottom Wall being provided with upstanding lugs on its sides at its front corners and saidtop Wall and one of said face plates being provided with lugsoverlapping'said first mentioned lugs, and means rigidly securingsaid'lugs together for bracing the box against distortion at the openfront thereof, the lugs at one corner of the box being of angularformation to extend around the corner and across the open front of thebox.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

MICHAEL J. ECONOMIDES. [n s.]

